I am always looking for ways to save money and I think that in addition to bringing in your own lunch you can also bring in your own snacks.
I love having food readily available to me as I get cranky when I am hungry.
I mean really, REALLY cranky.
It can be so easy to run to the vending machine (well not for me since I don’t carry cash) and get a snack to tide you over but when you think of the cost of vending machine snacks and how they add up over time it is just not practical.
I prefer to eat fruits instead of cookies and chips and other packaged foods so I buy them at the grocery store and package them at home instead. I have a few sandwich bags that hold just the right amount for a snack so I feel satisfied through the day.
It is really easy to get your snacks ready and you only need to follow a few steps if you have washable snacks like grapes.
* Buy fruits
* Wash fruits
* Dry fruits
* Package fruits
If you have fruits like apples then you would need to insert one more step
* Slice fruits
in order to make your snack package work.
Just follow those few simple steps and you will have snacks ready in a handy format. Having those prepackaged snacks will make it easier for you to have healthy options when it comes to snack time and this is good for your wallet AND your waistline.
I stopped using vending machines over a year ago just to limit my weight gain over the previous 2 years. I haven’t lost everything pound that I gained during that period, but it was probably not the only reason to the weight gain either.
If saving money is not motivation enough I can definitely recommend it as part of a weight loss program.
This is an excellent idea of saving your pennies. It’s amazing how a chocolate bar or packet of crisps piles the pounds on your body and sucks away at the pounds in your pockets.
We have a brilliant shop where I can buy dried fruits and nuts in bulk – I do the same and prepare little snack packs each day to allow me to graze at work!
It’s a great (and healthy!) way of saving money.
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It’s amazing how much you can save by buying the large package and using ziplock bags. I used to buy the snack packs – no more!
I also buy the “snack sized” ziplock bags. While you can use the “sandwhich size”, I like having the smaller ones.
Reddot
http://www.thebusysaver.com
Week before last they changed the keys at the school where I work and now none of the teachers can get into the teachers’ lounge to get vending machine food. It’s probably for the best, but I’ve been going through snack withdrawal so I should definitely take your advice.
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That is funny. Too bad they cannot do that where I work. There is a lady here who HAS to get a Pepsi every day. I told her she could save money by buying it at WalMart and storing them in the refrigerator here…. but to no avail.
I have to agree, packing your own lunch, definitely saves money. I try to do that as much as possible. I think I will make it a point to pack a lunch from home, from now on. I am saving to move to the city (small city) so I am glad I found this site to get some great tips on how to save cash! 😀
Thanks for dropping by Mishka and I am glad you find the tips helpful. You might want to take a look at 25 ways I Save Money at the top of the home page for more tips to save money.
I just started doing this for my kids, in particular. It’s good to have something on hand when we’re running late getting home for lunch. It keeps me from desperately going through the drive thru because they’re screaming they’re hungry.
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Cereal is also a good snack. You can easily pack it in ziploc bags, and there’s a variety of healthy ones to choose from – corn flakes, cheerios, shredded wheat, etc. – which I often just snack on without milk.
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Taking your own snacks is certainly a healthier way, in addition to a cheaper way, to live. There are lots of healthy snacks, but when at work and feeling hungry the vending machines don’t offer much that’s good for you!